"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
~ Dr. Seuss

Planetary Aspects

All planets aspect the 7th house from their positions in the chart. In addition to the conjunction (same house) and the 7th house, the following special aspects apply:

Mars aspects the 4th (7th) and 8th

Jupiter aspects the 5th (7th) and 9th

Saturn aspects the 3rd (7th) and 10th

Rahu and Ketu aspect the 5th and 9th

Overview of the Western Major AspectsThe first 10 aspects below are numbered according to their order of power."The Western system of aspects must be studied and used so as to arrive at accurate predictions."Quote from First Reader: Casting the Horoscope: 9th Edition: 2000: Page 113

Aspects: the Modifying Influence

1. Aspects are the modifying influences in a horoscope and a prediction is never complete unless the aspects are properly computed, studied, integrated and synthesized, and the results then judged.

Below are a few useful hints to enable one to arrive at a correct judgment:

First, assess the strength of the aspect. In Western Astrology, the Decile, or 36 degrees aspect, is not so powerful for good as a Trine; which is the 120 degree aspect.

A semi-square aspect, or the 45 degree aspect, is not so harmful as the challenging nature of the square; the 90 degrees aspect.

Below I have constructed an Aspect Table, which can also be viewed in the KP Workshop, to better acquaint you with the aspects that are of a Western nature.

An aspect or conjunction 'just within' the range of orb is weak in power.

Rapt: Two planets occupying the same degree and minute are considered to be in rapt conjunction. Exact aspect (conjunction) is styled rapt or partile.

Platic: An aspect that is just within the orb, either applying or separating, is termed platic or wide.

2. What is the quality of the aspect? Is it a beneficial aspect, or an evil aspect?

3. Is the aspect exact (rapt, partile) or is it wide (platic)? If platic, note whether the aspect is in the process of applying or separating.

4. Note the affairs governed by the house occupied by the aspected planet. Is it conjoined with any other planet at the same time? Association with a benefic (lord of a benefic house in the chart) is promising and auspicious. Any connection with malefics, most especially with lords of the 6th, 8th, and 12th houses, either by being conjoined with them or occupying their Nakshatras, etc., portends evil. The Nakshatra occupied by a planet is the most important, because the results denoted by the Nakshatra lord (by its ownership) will primarily dominate.

5. What does the aspected planet denote by its lordship? Is he a benefic or malefic? For which house(s)? A planet possesses certain natural characteristics and these will operate, but what the planet has to give by lordship will change the results indicated by by its nature, for example, Jupiter, a benefic by nature, will be evil by owning evil houses, while Saturn, by owning favorable houses, becomes benefic. Even these results are modified and changed by occupation (position) of various houses in the chart. The correct way is to judge by taking the planets occupation (position), lordship over which house(s), and its nature. But being posited in a particular constellation, and the modification by the lord of the constellation, are still more important. Jupiter and Venus, who are natural benefics, prove to be the worst evils for a number of people while the natural malefics, Mars and Saturn, immensely benefit some because they are occupying the constellations of the planets owning and occupying good houses.

6. Is the aspected planet posited in a house which is 6th, 8th, or 12th to the house it owns? Find out whether it is in a good angle (aspect) to the cusp of the house in which it is the owner,and find out the exact distance by counting degrees. This is the proper and correct method.

Hindus believe that a house gets completely destroyed if its owner is posited in the 6th, 8th or 12th from the sign it owns, or the lords of the 6th, 8th, or 12th to a particular house occupy that sign. A planet may own two houses, and to one house it may be in the 6th, 8th, or 12th. That house to which it is in the 6th, 8th, or 12th from will suffer, whereas the matters signified by the other house will improve.

7. Is the aspected planet dignified?

(a) The first is a planet in its exaltation sign is the strongest.

(b) Next is the planet in Vargottama? (Vargottama means occupying the same sign in both Rasi and Navamsha Charts).

(c) Third is a planet in its Mooltrikona house.

(d) Fourth is a planet in Swakshetra? (Its own house)

(e) Fifth is the planet hosted by a friend? (See the Planetary Relationship Table in the KP Workshop.)

A planet in debilitation, hosted by an enemy, or connected with malefics in any manner, is said to be weakly posited and afflicted.

8. Then note the nature of the sign occupied by the aspected planet. Is it movable, fixed, or common? Is the sign fiery, earthy, airy, watery, positive or negative, fruitful or barren, etc. Similarly, find out whether the aspecting planet is a benefic by lordship, whether he is dignified or afflicted, beneficial or adverse by occupation (position), and whether the planet that aspects, is hosted by a friend. Also note whether the aspecting planet is in a Kendra (Angular 1, 4, 7, 10), Panaphara (Succedent 2, 5, 8, 11), or Apokilma (Cadent 3, 6, 9, 12) house.

(a) Kendra's, houses 1, 4, 7, and 10, and planets posited therein are said to be accidently dignified, for example, they attain full strength to express themselves.

(c) Apoklima, 3, 6, 9, and 12, and planets posited in these houses get weakened, and lack opportunity for expression. It is also important to note who the lord of the constellation is in which the aspecting planet is situated.

If one has basically assimilated the basic elements that constitute a horoscope, and one has acquired the ability to integrate and synthesize properly, the value of this method to predict the nature of the event, the time of the event, and the extent to which it can offer, will be realized and recognized.